New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner admitted his team would have been in a far stronger position had they defeated the England cricket team, following a four-wicket loss that has left their semifinal hopes uncertain.
Speaking after the Super Eights clash on Friday, Santner said victory would have simplified the qualification equation for the Black Caps. England, already assured of a semi-final berth, tightened the race further with the win, leaving New Zealand dependent on other results.
The outcome has kept the Pakistan cricket team in contention for the knockout stage. Pakistan now need a convincing win against the Sri Lankan cricket team in their final Super Eights fixture to leapfrog New Zealand on net run rate. If Pakistan bat first, they must secure victory by at least 65 runs, while a chase would require finishing the target within 13.1 overs to book a semi-final berth.
Reflecting on the match, Santner said New Zealand played well in patches but failed to capitalise on key moments with both bat and ball. He acknowledged England’s strong execution under pressure while suggesting his side fell slightly short of a competitive total. According to Santner, the team had laid a solid foundation but lost momentum at crucial stages of the innings.
Santner noted that New Zealand’s total of around 160 was below what they had targeted after building a promising platform. He believed the side could have pushed the score closer to 170 or 175 with better finishing in the final overs. Losing wickets late hurt their acceleration, he said, adding that tough decisions taken after the timeout also affected their push for a bigger total.
England captain Harry Brook praised leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed for his match-winning contribution, which included figures of 2/28 and an unbeaten 19 off seven balls. Brook also credited Will Jacks, whose unbeaten 32 helped guide England home. He said the team had selected Ahmed based on conditions and was pleased with how effectively the young spinner delivered.
Brook also backed senior wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler despite his continued struggles in the tournament, including another duck in the match. Emphasising Buttler’s experience and match-winning pedigree, Brook said the veteran remains a phenomenal player capable of turning things around. With qualification scenarios still fluid, the final round of Super Eights matches is expected to determine the remaining semi-final spots.